Fire Industry News for July 2025

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is responding to more than 50 calls for help after strong winds lashed parts of Sydney's west and south-west overnight. Gusts of more than 100 kilometers per hour buffeted some suburbs, leaving a trail of debris and destruction and causing some properties to lose power. NSW State Emergency Service FRNSW has been called in to assist the NSW SES with trees that have crashed down FRNSW has been called in to assist the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) with trees that...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews remain on scene, mopping up, after a fire ripped through a large storage warehouse at Girraween, in Sydney's west, overnight. The blaze broke out on the Great Western Highway just before 2 am. At the peak of the fire, more than 100 firefighters and 20 fire trucks worked to stop the fierce fire from spreading to neighboring businesses. Firefighters pumping water Firefighters used four aerial ladder trucks to safely get over the top of the fire to contain it F...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have pulled off the 'purr-fect' rescue effort, extricating a cantankerous kitten from the dashboard of a car at Blackett, in Sydney's west. The kitten was being driven home for the first time by its new owner, along Devaney Street, just before midday yesterday, when the frightened feline made a run for it, scampering behind the dashboard where it got stuck. Ropes Crossing Fire Station A distress call went out to the crew from the Ropes Crossing Fire St...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is praising the actions of four police officers who kicked open a door to rescue a man from his burning home at Fairfield East, in Sydney's south-west. Around 4:15 a.m., emergency services were deployed to the townhouse on Mitchell Street, where a blaze had broken out in a bedroom. NSW Ambulance paramedics NSW Police were the first to arrive on-scene and quickly established that a man was trapped inside. They forced open a door and found him lying on the ground, su...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is trying to determine the cause of a large fire that has destroyed a two-storey home at Oyster Bay, in Sydney's south. FRNSW received multiple Triple Zero (000) calls about the blaze in Cook Road just before 11 am. The occupants safely escaped the fire, which started in the ground-floor garage and spread throughout the house. No injuries reported No injuries have been reported. Around 30 firefighters from eight fire trucks, including an aerial platform, battl...

South Wales Police’s custody services require further improvement, having shown limited progress in some areas since its last inspection, a report has found. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that South Wales Police has clear governance arrangements for the provision of custody. However, HMICFRS and CQC said that oversight of these arrangements is not robust enough and that there has b...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have stabilized a dangerous heat build-up at a thermal energy storage plant at Tomago, in the state's Hunter Valley. Crews were called to the facility in Laverick Avenue just after 5.15 this morning. Three employees made it to safety as authorities established an 800m exclusion zone and evacuated 15 neighboring businesses. Bulk Carbon Dioxide Tanker Firefighters called in a Bulk Carbon Dioxide Tanker from Sydney as they sprayed CO2 onto the 14x3m over-he...

Inspired by a firefighter’s own experience in caring for his mother with dementia, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is trialing the innovative use of smartphone technology and partnering with care providers to protect elderly and vulnerable people from house fires. The initiative relies on Quick Response (QR) codes – or two-dimensional matrix barcodes – which users can scan with their phone cameras to access fire safety resources. Identify potential fire hazards Fire crews will a...

The Metropolitan Police’s approach to child protection is putting vulnerable children at risk, and it should make urgent improvements, the police inspectorate has found. causes of concern His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said the Met is failing to: Identify and assess risks appropriately, and to respond adequately, when children are reported missing; and Effectively investigate when children are at risk of, or harmed by, crimin...

Extraordinary CCTV footage, obtained by Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), has captured the moment two backpackers were caught in a fireball when a Lithium-ion battery exploded inside a hostel now at Darlinghurst, in inner Sydney. FRNSW deployed 22 firefighters and six fire trucks to Darlinghurst Road, where the blaze had broken out in a unit shortly after 9 am. It's suspected to have been sparked by a faulty e-bike battery left on charge. Security footage Security footage from a hallway shows...

Suffolk Constabulary needs to improve how it responds to the public and protects vulnerable victims, the police inspectorate has said. review of the Suffolk Constabulary Suffolk Constabulary needs to improve how it responds to the public and protects vulnerable victims, the police inspectorate has said. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded Suffolk Constabulary’s performance across nine areas of policing and found the constabula...

Merseyside Police is effective at preventing crime, but it must improve its service for the public in a number of key areas, the police inspectorate has said. review of Merseyside Police His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded Merseyside Police’s performance across eight areas of policing and found the force was good in three areas, adequate in three areas and requires improvement in two areas. HMICFRS praised the force for listen...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is urging NSW residents to check their smoke alarms following the death of a man after a fire broke out in his granny flat at Lurnea, in Sydney's south-west, last night. FRNSW crews were called around 10:30 pm to Wonga Road, near West Street, after neighbors initially reported a gas leak. It was later established that a small blaze had occurred at the property. The occupant, a man in his sixties, was found unconscious inside the premises and could not be revived. Ex...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have extinguished a fire that damaged a grain silo at Condobolin, in the state's Central West, overnight. The blaze broke out around 8 pm in a loader vehicle, inside the concrete structure, at a major grain storage facility on Silo Road. NSW Rural Fire Service FRNSW quickly deployed eight firefighters and two fire trucks to the scene, including specialists in hazardous materials response. The NSW Rural Fire Service provided additional crews in support. They...

A Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crew became engaged in a real-life game of snakes and ladders now, trying to catch a slippery serpent on the loose in Sydney's south. The crew from Menai fire station was called to Gymea Bay Road around 8 am amid reports of a snake inside a house. Wildlife rescue organization FRNSW assists the WIRES wildlife rescue organization with snake-snaring missions in areas When firefighters arrived, the two-meter diamond python made a 'slither for it,' racing out of the...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) now is working to manage an asbestos risk after fire engulfed a factory at Canterbury, in Sydney's south-west, overnight. More than 70 firefighters and 25 fire trucks were deployed to the blaze, which broke out in a whitegoods business on Canterbury Road around 2:30 am. FRNSW mobilized trucks Fire crews attempted to enter the building but were quickly forced to retreat due to the dangerous conditions. Flames threatened to spread to an adjoining petrol station, wher...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has joined forces with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) to complete a major hazard reduction operation to protect homes at Cameron Park at Lake Macquarie. More than 40 FRNSW firefighters, in four pumper appliances and six water tankers, worked with RFS volunteers and council staff at the weekend to reduce built-up fuel in 38 hectares of bushland adjoining hundreds of homes and a network of transmission lines. Hazard reduction responsibility The RFS used a helicopte...

Cleveland Police has made improvements and has therefore been removed from an enhanced level of monitoring by the police inspectorate.  PEEL Cause of concern His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) continuously monitors the performance of all police forces in England and Wales.  The monitoring process consists of two stages: Scan and Engage. All police forces are in the Scan phase by default, but may be escalated to Engage. Cleveland...

Gloucestershire Constabulary has made improvements and has therefore been removed from an enhanced level of monitoring by the police inspectorate.  PEEL Cause of concern His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) continuously monitors the performance of all police forces in England and Wales.  The monitoring process consists of two stages: Scan and Engage. All police forces are in the Scan phase by default, but may be escalated to Engag...

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has graded Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service’s performance across 11 areas and found the service was ‘adequate’ in four areas and ‘requires improvement’ in seven areas. HMICFRS said that while improvements have been seen in most areas, more improvements are needed. In particular, the service needed to improve how effective it is at protecting the public through the reg...

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has graded Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service’s performance across 11 areas and found the service was ‘adequate’ in four areas, ‘requires improvement’ in six areas, and ‘inadequate’ in one area. HMICFRS said the service needed to improve how it ensures fairness and promotes diversity, particularly in ensuring it provides adequate facilities to maintain the dignity of...

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service has made improvements in some areas, but further changes are needed, the fire inspectorate has said. Effectiveness and people: SFRS His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has graded Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s performance across 11 areas and found the service was ‘good’ in one area, ‘adequate’ in three areas, and ‘requires improvement’ in seven areas. HMICFRS said t...

Pierhead Housing has been providing good quality homes for people in real housing need across Merseyside since 1971. To provide a fully addressable 2 loop fire alarm system in substantial sheltered accommodation unit consisting of 31 flats and common areas. The system was to be designed, installed, and commissioned to Category Type L1 - BS5839:2005. The Process The client contacted the company very early in the conception stage of the project and asked to design a bespoke fire alarm system fo...

McGoff & Vickers have been picked to design and build the electrical, data and security systems for a new-build project housing a lecture theater, classrooms and catering facilities for the Faculty of Education, in line with the consultant's design brief. The project also included the design and build of external lighting in the landscaping of drives and pathways. Where possible, energy saving products were to be used, and it was necessary to comply with Part L of Building Regulations. Eff...

The well-being of the people, customers and partners is always the number one priority. Lorient took the decision to close the manufacturing sites and depots from the 27th March, following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. They confirmed it will be re-opening the sites in a phased approach starting from the 11th May. They have taken this decision following a series of government updates and strict internal reviews to make sure they can safely resume operations. It has also been positive to see...

Lorient a proud to be sponsoring the pre-dinner drinks at the Institute of Architectural Ironmonger’s AGM. The Institute of Architectural Ironmongers Annual General meeting is being held at the Hallmark Hotel, Gloucester. The Institute represents the interests of those individuals either studying to gain their professional qualifications or those who have passed and are looking to gain CPD points. Expert Presentations The IAI AGM brings industry professionals together for networking and...

Lorient is delighted to launch the latest Fire-Resistant Door Hardware brochure. Ironmongery is a vital part of a fire door. However, every time a fire door is cut to fit ironmongery, a weakness is created. This could mean three or four weak points in a door, where fire can take hold. Adding intumescent door hardware kits protect those weak points. Fire & Security Kits Lorient's new brochure includes a wide range of products, including fire, smoke + security letterplates, door edge protec...

From humble beginnings in 1979, Lorient’s first combined fire and smoke seal was created in a small industrial unit in Surrey. Fast forward, Lorient is a global market pioneer in high performance door sealing systems recognized worldwide for quality, technical capability, and service. They have over 100 employees across the globe; and 100s of products in range; and continue to break new records. Engineering the Future While the company’s services have expanded, the underlying prin...

Lorient had presented at the Arnold Laver Fire Door Safety Day at Eastwood Hall, Eastwood.  This event was FREE to attend and CPD accredited, hosted by pioneer Fire Door Safety provider Arnold Laver. Fire doors are one of the most VITAL elements of every commercial, public and residential building, saving both lives and property. Building Fire Protection Arnold Laver fire door safety days are co-hosted with BWF-Fire Door Alliance Scheme to discuss the growing concern of fire safety in UK...

Lorient is thrilled to officially announce the launch of its new website, that showcases Lorient’s innovative range of products and services. The new website features a clean, contemporary design with an intuitive site-wide navigation system and enhanced search functionality, enabling quick and easy access to helpful information. New and Enhanced Feauters An interactive doorset has been introduced on the homepage The structure of the content has been improved with a new resource centre...